Saturday, March 4, 2017

Greg Kihn Band - Next of Kihn (1978, Beserkley)

For what it's worth, it's long perturbed me that aside from two sizable hit singles that are still in classic rock rotation ("The Breakup Song" and "Jeopardy") there seems to be a complete media blackout on the Greg Kihn Band. I don't get it. The dude had far more hits than the aforementioned, not to mention a keenkihn commercial accessibility that played effectively to both the AOR masses, and us power pop types. Most artists of his stature have enjoyed exhaustive album reissues/expansions, but save for a best-of or two Kihn's catalog has languished out of print. In fact, the GKB's debut Next of Kihn made it into the digital era for what seemed like two minutes. I don't get this. Really don't get this. Why do they want to deprive this man of a legacy and kill off the memory of his band?

Truth be told, Next of Kihn is a mixed bag, with some lengthier pieces that may have seemed ok when the record was tracked in '78, but don't quite translate forty years after the fact. It's the more concise cuts that do the trick for me - "Sorry," as well as the absolutely pumping "Cold Hard Cash" and "Museum." Maybe not the textbook definition of power pop, but they truly don't write 'em like this anymore.

7 comments:

Having lived through the original slew of Kihn releases and the rise and fall of the Beserkley label, I too never understood why Kihn never broke big in his own time. Wasn't aware a new album was coming. I for one am eager to hear what Kihn sounds like now. And if you want to hear a GREAT current rock album that is -- like Kihn was in his prime was -- both contemporary and commercial, take a listen to Chuck Prophet's BOBBY FULLER DIED FOR YOUR SINS. A full-fledged 2017 Top 10 Best Of album. And I can't thin of any other artists that have hit their high points 15 or 16 or 17 albums into a career like Prophet has with BOBBY FULLER and his previous album, NIGHT SURFER.

Thanks for the suggestion Mark. It's not that he didn't break big - HE DID BREAK BIG, which is why I can't figure out all the ignorance to him. Out of control I suppose, and I think there are more pressing matters we should fix our gaze towards, eh?

spavid---Could not agree more, outside of the 2 monster singles most folks have no clue as to the great songwriting and hooks of the Kihn career---absolutely stunning live shows as well.I was fortunate to have spent some time with Greg here in Chicago during the 90's (to prove your point---we had an actual, no-shit Spinal Tap in-store where maybe 15 people showed up all day...). I'm glad he's had success with his horror books as well.Next Of Kihn is also a favorite of mine and I'm looking forward to hearing the new stuff.